A Quick Kick at Rick, While He's Still Around

• These points of review are where an honest debate should be held. Not too sure Texas has rolled back their child labor laws and the workplace safety rollback sounds like a stretch. I will take the pro on 1, 3, and some of 2. We will have to hammer these points of view out as a country. I know that we will all have to adjust some for the country to work well. Here is to a better 2012, may the best ideas win.

• Funny how The Observer never critiques Barrack H. Obama.   Oh, but then again, there is never any balance here.  Whatever.

• Judd, the problem is your definition of "better performance for business locations." The best performance award, I suppose, might go to that place with the lowest taxes, the least environmental restriction, the weakest tort law, the slackest workplace safety and child labor laws. But that place is called Hell. 

• Perry is the ultimate hypocrite. He has been on the state payroll since the 80's, he recently retired so he can double dip, retirement + $150,000 salary, then he closed the loophole so other state employees couldn't double dip. He is a defender of states' rights unless it is not in his or his supporters best interest. He is for freedom unless you have a teenage daughter and Merck's lobbyist want a law passed into law forcing her to take a shot of Gardasil, he wants to privatize state government and give the contracts to his supporters, Texas Emerging Technology Fund is nothing but a kickback scam, tax payer monies go in the fund, the money is doled out to technology companies, most of which are GOP supporters, and in return the recipients help out at election time.

• Maybe citizens of Texas will finally wake up to what an phenomenal empty suit Perry is.  A professional glad hander doing the bidding of his lobbyist overlords.  With his guidance Texas now faces power shortages, water shortages, a declining highway system and a budget shortfall.  On the downside he will likely campaign at every church with a parking lot and be re-elected after opposition by a disorganized duffus Democrat.

• Cant wait to see Jim kick around Obama. 

• I just want to make sure "heli dad" doesn't win ANY office; even reserve police officer for the state.  I hate that guy.  AND I only hate a few folks-let's see: 1) Craig James 2) Adam Lames-he he 3) Bucky Dent 4) Aaron Boone 5) That guy that stole my girlfriend  in the 7th grade, because he had a Mongoose Scrambler.  Hate destroys......just remember that. And be vigilant with the peace, and recycling!

• You ma'am, are SO correct.  They employed the "good ole boy network" for nearly a century.  Change is good.

• i "is"....BUT i'M A GOOD TEXAN AMERICAN NOW.  

• NEVER..........DUDE.

• nana?

• what?

• I realize I'm beginning to sound like a broken record, but for the life of me I can't understand how this clown ever got serious consideration as a candidate for the fucking presidency.

• oh please can we move to discussion to recalling him?

• I read it again just to make sure. It cost me an eye roll from my wife. States with better performance for business locations are not listed. There are only 49 other choices and I believe the longest has 13 letters.

• Border states have larger challenges absorbing their influx of residents from the South as well as the North. I remember reading a number of articles about people in Eastern block countries voting with their feet toward the West. I agree with promoting the highest skill job development and immigration. Often you cannot selectively pick the exact sectors you want like they were on a menu. I have consistently been is favor of a good blend of everything at all levels of skills. That old idea of he melting pot.

• Randy I appreciate your concern but I think I have a pretty good command of the facts. You may want to check out Texas performance against other states over the last decade. http://www.siteselection.com/

• The mistake a good many people will make, as you have, is to think Rick Perry stupid.  He is not.  While he was not a good student he is probably a remarkably intelligent person, as most con men are. 

• I loved this column even more than I can't stand our blowhard governor.

• If the Dems could ever run someone other that  a damn trial lawyer they might have a better chance.  So what do you think of Ron Paul, at least Mz. Jackson-Lee ain't running or we'd be kicked out of the union. Humm that might not be such a bad idea.

• The fact that Perry defeated Bill White in the governor's election speaks volumes about the majority of Texas voters.  DUH?

• I wouldn't say "never," but darn it, I sure do miss Molly Ivins: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/08/18/121170/commentary-did-molly-ivins-say.html http://motherjones.com/mojo/2011/08/rick-perry-molly-ivins

• The nicest thing I can think of to say right now is that it's a good thing for him he didn't quit his current job to run, like he wanted other officeholders to do in the past when they ran for higher offices.

• Oh, honey....not all people are laughing at you. I'm in Arizona and I feel for you.

• Tee-hee. 

• While I agree 100% with you Jim, (wow, I never thought I would say that!), don't count out Guv Goodhair just yet. The man has more lives than a freaking cat. He'll do well enough in Iowa to fool himself into thinking he should press along toward the goal. He'll continue at least through South Carolina, which will be the true test of who is still on his bandwagon. But you are right, it shouldn't be too long now. When he announced his plans to run, I prayed to the Sweet Baby Jesus that he would finally be exposed for the dolt he is. Never, and I mean NEVER, did I expect the prayer to be answered in such wonderous fashion. It has truly been one of the greatest joys of my life watching his complete and total implosion.

• I am from Illinois and I have to say that while the recent guvs of Texas are pretty stupid, they really can't hold a candle to the recent guvs of Illinois, who are stupid, convicted felons, although I have to admit that some of Guv Goodhair's shenanigans could land him in the pokey. 

• Craig James? Please. Doesn't stand a chance. Dewie Dewhurst is going to bury all competitors with his $200 million war chest. Unbeknownst to most, he's the power behind the government. Kind of the hand up the puppet's ass, as it were. Blame him for Texas' political problems. He and his posse make Karl Rove look like a political pussy.

• Even the Texas Tribune backed off, when it came to estimating the true amount of the budget deficit in the last session of the Legislature!  They continually published, and never seriously questioned a $13-15 billion figure, put out there by Perry & Co. when everyone knew the true figure would come to $25-$27 billion. 

• http://www.villagevoice.com/2011-10-05/news/rick-perry-texas-fantasy/

• Not originally from Texas I find the people here extremely ignorant when it comes to politics.

• This fool needs to get off the national stage and stop making Texas a laughing stock.

• I'm not sure what Perry has specifically done, other than enact an income tax on businesses (and dole out taxpayer money to cronies through the various state funds) that has changed the business climate in Texas from what it was under the last several governors. And, under Perry, we went from having 47% of the state's residents having a job to 43.5% (below the national average of 44.7%), and since Texas has the highest number of people working minimum wage jobs, having lower overall employment means we're not only not keeping up with population growth when it comes to jobs, but those jobs that are created are more likely to be low-paying (minimum wage jobs in Texas grew by almost 150% between 2007 and 2010). Also, 23 states (including New York) have lower unemployment rates than Texas. Growth is certainly better than the alternative, but the growth we're getting isn't helping the state in any number of ways (tax revenues are consistently down at both the state and local level, employment is down, minimum wage jobs are growing much faster than professional jobs, etc.) We might be smart to enact policies that result in slower growth but growth that results in better jobs or increased tax revenues rather than the growth we've been achieving.

• I thought you were from the East Coast.

• I think he was being sarcastic. Go back to the food blog!

• You're not being fair to boxes or rocks.

• I blame it on climate change. The incessant heat for 5-6 months leading up to election day bakes all the little gray cells and the gopers just punch R and don't even try to think about it.

• You can't "like" your own comments here. (And, maybe you read too quickly, but I thought the sarcasm in my post was clear).

• By 2018, he'll be emperor of Glenbeckistan, which exists completely inside abandoned missile silos in Kansas.

• I believe they use the wrong finger for the Govenor passback

• I like the way you 'liked" the comment 11 times!  We are not  MEAN enough to that guy; and principled-oh brother, I bet "he don't even know what dat mean".  

• Only in Texas would we elect a guy as dumb as a box of rocks.  He follows in the great George Bush tradition.  Ya'll make it a three peat, and elect that brain dead mallot called Craig James to elected office.  Again, only in Texas.  People laugh at us!  

• All due respect, but a snarky comment does not constitute the names of states with better growth from their policy choices...

• The Texas media gets a giant raspberry from any thinking person.  They have never held Perry's feet to the fire, questioned him, asked him to state his belief as to any meaningful topic, but instead been very good soldiers and reprinted whatever Perry's handlers told them too.  They are the only folks who should be more embarrassed than Perry himself, now that the truth is out - Perry is a vessel for other people's ideas and while pretty and full of good hair, he has zero thoughts of his own or convictions as to anything other than saying what he is told to. He doesn't even know why he says the things he says!    My hope in the future is that the Texas Tribune will have the balls and firepower to hold politicians accountable in this state, because the newspapers are concerned with only one thing, selling more subscriptions to their dying media and the local news channels have all but killed off investigative journalism.  (check out the Texastribune.org if you are not...real journalism still exists!)   The only solace is that while Texans put this man in office longer than any person in Texas history, at least the nation is smart enough to rigorously examine their candidates and insist that chimp level IQ is simply not good enough for commander in Chief.  Thank God!

• You might want to check the facts before making the statement that Texas is doing so much better than other states.

• Yes the healing would be great except the grand canyon of policy difference between the two points of view. Texas has had a very good climate for business and the "rubber meets the road" reality of businesses moving to Texas year after year.(as opposed to literary conjecture) Perry is very good at selecting the best policy options available. Debate and public speaking are obviously not his strong suits. I am still waiting on the name of the states with better growth from their policy choices.

• Thanks! I was confused as I thought he meant an article Jim or his editors hadn't released for publication.

• Yeah, Perry runs again in '14, no doubt. The real fun comes in '18 when Glenn Beck will run for guv.

• this year? Why limit?

• Jim, you've got me thinking.  Who are we gonna kick around when Perry bows out? The other candidates just aren't as fun. Well,  at least we'll get another shot at him when he runs for governor again. And boy, won't his opponent have fun with all the video clips of him being dumb this year? That is, assuming the world doesn't end in 2012. 

• Click on the first link contained in the above text and watch the magic!

• So do we get to see the %^#%^$%^%$^$ article or not?

• You forget to tell him to say "Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan" to the melody of a Flock of Seagulls song.

• You guys are way too mean to Governor Perry. The guy is obviously a very principled guy. Like how he's steadfastly against activist judges overturning the laws passed by duly elected legislators.... except in Virginia when it comes to ballot access laws. And like how he's for state's rights to pass the laws that they see fit and for the Feds to butt out.... except in Virginia when it comes to ballot access laws. And so on.

• I knew it! #$%! Missed my deadline again!

• Rick who?

• As long as he follows the directions of the 1% in Texas, they will want him to be THEIR governor.

TotalComments: 57